Turn! Turn! Turn!

To everything there is a season...

As the co-founder of the Arizona Cyber Warfare Range, there is an expectation, a stereotype, a theme. In this role, I play the part of a nonchalant, brutally direct, and non-diplomatic role. Not only does playing this role meet everyone's expectations, but it also serves an important purpose. That purpose is to scare away those who find the ideas of hacking, cyber security from an informed / insider perspective, and "grey" areas terrifying. Let's face it, when in battle, nobody wants skittish and flighty characters around. They are a danger to everyone and every mission. I go to supreme lengths to be offensive, scary, and brutally honest to ensure those people stay away from me and the cyber warfare range. Frankly, those types of people will not be the survivors of this very large conflict. They are the Dodo birds of the cyber security era... good riddance.

To be clear, I love the simplicity and honesty of playing such a role. Those who know me well will tell you that playing that part comes quite naturally to me.

Like everyone, this "public" role does not define me. I am much more capable and dynamic than what is easily perceived. To assess the veracity of my claim, consider the very accomplishment itself. Navigating the treacherous waters of law enforcement, national cyber security policies and confusions, the intense competition of every major agency of government, business interests, being disruptive to almost every entity involved with the very broad category of cyber. The very fact of the Arizona Cyber Warfare Range, its leadership role in our national cyber security, its ability to accomplish what everyone else has failed to do, and to do so without the hundreds of millions given to the competition. The ability to navigate the treacherous waters of competing interests, political game play, and to remain the most disruptive force in cyber security is no small result and it belies the simple definition of the role I play.

Of course I am not the only player. The incredible team of players assembled and functioning cannot be ignored or discounted. Every player on "Team Awesome" rightfully deserves credit. One can never accomplish great things alone. To those individuals, you have my eternal gratitude, love, and endless friendship.

Now that the AZCWR lives, has been recognized, and survived its emergence into the light, the drama will continue. From endless carping from the politically connected, to the crocodile tears of certain intelligence agencies and the military establishment, to the constant weaving spiders of rumor and "scuttlebutt", the AZCWR will continue to endure massive turbulence. It was not designed to make me new friends, quite the opposite actually. It does, however, serve its purpose. Put bluntly, "get serious about protecting our country and interests, or just die already". We can no longer afford the dead weight and failure of those who do not "get it".

I will continue to disrupt, scare, anger, threaten, and challenge. It is already delivering outstanding results, and we have not even hit our stride.